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approach the County Council. In Lambeth 14 houses were represented by the medical officer of
health and subsequently repaired. Four blocks of labouring class dwellings have been erected by
the London and South-Western Railway Company, and the scheme of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
for the erection of cottages in the Webber-street and Ufford-street area had made progress.
The question was under consideration of opening up and improving the network of narrow
courts between Lambeth-walk and St. Albans-street. Dr. Priestley says the houses are in fair
sanitary condition, and Cannot be dealt with under the Housing of the Working Classes Act either
singly or as forming an area. In Wandsworth, the Public Health Committee had under consideration
a proposal to erect artizans' dwellings on two sites, the Rectory-grove site, Clapham, and the
Hill's-yard site, Wandsworth Plain, but found the cost of land prohibitive. A sub-committee was
re-appointed to further consider the question. In Greenwich no scheme for dealing with
any special area has been adopted. In the Greenwich-market area many houses had been
voluntarily closed by the Admiralty and by private individuals. In Woolwich 10 houses were
represented by the medical officer of health, and closing orders obtained for three. Improvements
were effected in the others on service of notices. He reported in October on two insanitary streets,
New-street and Globe-lane having respectively a population of 132 and 65 inhabitants. The deathrate
was 29.5 per 1,000 living per annum. The death-rate from phthisis was exceptionally high, and
two of the cases occurred in rooms where the direct rays of the sun can never penetrate. Numerous
improvements were effected, but in some of the houses the state of darkness continues. Under
Part III. of the Act 25 new houses have been erected by the Borough Council in North Woolwich.
The report of the Housing of the Working Classes Committee of the Camberwell Borough Council
shows that the Council is erecting on land at Grove-vale 85 two-storied houses, 4 for single families
and the remainder for two families, comprising 166 tenements, each of which is self-contained
and includes a bath-room. The Council possesses also 135 houses in Hollington-street area.
These houses have been put into a state of repair. The Committee state, "There is no displacement
of population, even temporarily. In the majority of cases even the original tenants occupy
the same rooms, and in all cases pay the same rent as formerly. There is no charge on the rates
whatever, the working actually showing a profit, which commences to accrue immediately upon
the acquisition of the property. The standard of living in the area has greatly improved, for which
the Council is responsible, both directly and indirectly. Sub-letting, with its accompanying evils,
is abolished. A class of persons, the poorest of the poor, is being housed in tenements at rents
which, if they were not available, would force them to seek indoor parochial relief, and thus cause
them and their families to become a burden on the poor rate. This may well be considered as a
direct addition to the income of the estate in its relation to the general rate."
Proceedings in respect of houses represented under Part II. of the Act as unfit for human habitation.